Mastodawn

SavvyWolf Aug 13, 2024

How much do Americans actually pay for healthcare?

How much do Americans actually pay for healthcare? - Pawb.Social

Hey all, I’m British so I don’t really know the ins and outs of the US healthcare system. Apologies for asking what is probably a rather simple question. So like most of you, I see many posts and gofundmes about people having astronomically high medical bills. Most recently, someone having a $27k bill even after his death. However, I have an American friend who is quick to point out that apparently nobody actually pays those bills. They’re just some elaborate dance between insurance companies and hospitals. If you don’t have insurance, the cost is lower or removed entirely. Supposedly. So I’m just asking… How accurate is that? Consider someone without insurance, a minor physical ailment, a neurodivergent mind and no interest in fighting off harassing people for the rest of their life. How much would such a person expect to pay, out of their own pocket, for things like check ups, x rays, meds, counselling and so on?

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Gradually_Adjusting Aug 13, 2024

I read something from last year that said about half a million Americans go into bankruptcy due to medical debt each year.

That’s it, that’s what happens. You lose everything and you start over, if you’re healthy enough.

Protect your NHS.

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twinnie Aug 13, 2024

Have those people actually lost everything or is it just some scheme to pay less?

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Gradually_Adjusting

apnews.com/…/medical-debt-legislation-2a4f2fab7e2…

I’ll let you figure it out.

States confront medical debt that's bankrupting millions

Lawmakers in over a dozen states and the U.S. Congress are tackling medical debt, which has become a leading cause of personal bankruptcy. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports an estimated 100 million Americans have amassed nearly $200 billion in collective medical debt — almost the size of Greece’s economy. The financial burden has pushed millions of Americans into financial uncertainty. The flurry of bills — in states including Colorado, New York and Florida — would create medical debt relief programs, protect certain personal property from collections, lower interest rates or keep medical debt from tanking credit scores.

AP News